Tag: Technology

Lighting and air-conditioning can be controlled using a ring. Now, a design studio in Amsterdam has devised a piece of jewellery that enhances digital security. Still a concept, the ring is used for verifying personal contacts. Initially, an integrated infrared-light scanner captures the blood flow through users’ finger veins. This information is converted into a personal code and stored...

Glasses help minimise epileptic fits or relieve the symptoms of depression with light. For motorcyclists, however, too much light can be a serious hazard. Enter an Italian startup and its new visor which automatically adjusts to light conditions using a layer of liquid crystals. Their arrangement is determined by a small solar panel in the helmet, and changes depending...

Training AI systems requires less and less energy. At the same time modern AI tools are getting more efficient at creating deepfakes, making impersonations appear real. Now a German startup has developed an AI platform which detects manipulation in media data. The software, also hosted in Germany, combines different AI models. These check whether a face has been swapped,...

Both blood sugar and blood pressure can be measured by smartphone. Now a research team in Japan is using the devices to determine radiation levels on-site in the event of a catastrophe. The team’s mobile solution comprises a foldable scanner with integrated LED light and a radiochromic film (similar to those used in CT scanners). The film changes colour...

Chickpeas double as a coffee alternative. Capsule machines are increasingly used for a quick, authentic caffeine hit, with natural capsules helping reduce waste. But now a Munich-based startup has developed a compact new machine that makes do without them. Two levers make it a breeze for users. Push the horizontal one in and the grounds enter the portafilter. Compress...

A new screen displays the highest resolution humans can perceive. Now for people who use bi- or varifocal lenses comes the latest development from a Finnish startup: ‘autofocus’ glasses. Its lenses are cut for users’ distance vision and feature embedded liquid crystals in a large circular area in the centre. Sensors in the frame send invisible infrared light to...

Optimised shipping routes lead to reduced emissions. CO2 emissions can also be spiked by algae on ships’ hulls and changes in flow behaviour. Now, a startup in Singapore is specialising in the removal of algae on container ships and other types of vessels. A robot inspects the extent of the damage, using patented technology to generate clear images even...

A smart pen deciphers Braille characters. But participating fully in digital life remains a challenge for those with no or limited vision. Enter a New York-based research team and its sparkling idea. The team’s square display contains 100 evenly arranged circular silicone sheets, each measuring 2mm in diameter. The sheets can be made to pop up within 0.24 milliseconds...